This week in 5 numbers: Employees use banned AI tools to speed up their work

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including the percentage of CEOs who expect to reduce the size of their workforce in the next 12 months.

EEOC doubles down on religious rights in 2 accommodation decisions

Religious bias and employers’ failure to provide religious accommodations have been focal points for President Donald Trump’s administration.

Why CFOs must stop treating compensation as a cost

Today’s economic uncertainty presents an opportunity for CFOs to get ahead of competitors struggling with the whiplash of boom-and-bust pay tactics, Payscale’s Philip Watson writes.

Employers let workers trade in PTO for cash, student loan payments

Employers have a “balancing act” of providing flexibility but also making sure employees are actually taking time off, an expert at Goldman Sachs Ayco told HR Dive.

More CEOs expect to reduce their workforce during next 12 months, survey shows

For the first time since 2020, the proportion of CEOs who plan to shrink their workforce exceeded the share looking to expand.

Online job interview simulator could help workers after incarceration, study finds

Researchers said the findings could lead to more interest in virtual training to help people after prison release.

Massachusetts awards skilled trades grants, approves private apprenticeship program

The grants are meant to bolster training for high-demand occupations within sectors like construction and manufacturing, the governor’s office said.

Recession fears driving 83% of hiring managers to take cost-saving moves

But layoffs, unfilled vacancies and other proactive measures are taking away from companies’ focus on their long-term futures, an Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey found.

School district asks court to reel in EEOC charge it called a ‘fishing expedition’

The lawsuit alleged that then-Commissioner Andrea Lucas issued an “overly broad and vague” discrimination charge that exceeded the agency’s authority.

AI may have negative implications for Black workers, advocate says

Beyond environmental justice issues, AI deregulation doesn’t bode well for the future of bias-free hiring, one Color of Change leader told HR Dive.

Nearly half of workers say they’ve used banned AI tools at work, survey finds

“Employees are willing to trade compliance for convenience. That should be a wake-up call,” the founder and CEO of Anagram said.

DOL to provide $30M in training grants on AI, skilled trades

The department will award grants of up to $8 million to state workforce agencies to create training funds that encourage employers to both develop and expand programs.

6th Circuit breaks from EEOC on employer liability for client harassment

A manufacturer wasn’t liable for a client harassing an employee because it didn’t intend for the harassment to occur, the court held.

Ikea settles 5 lawsuits alleging age bias

In a collective action, one plaintiff alleged Ikea’s preference for younger employees is openly expressed at the highest level.

Half of Gen Z workers want ‘growth mindset’ jobs in AI era

Since the beginning of 2025, Flexa has seen a 240% increase in the number of job searches for roles offering learning and development benefits.

Young workers lead the way in AI learning, survey shows

Along with technical know-how, workers should stay competitive by building human skills in problem-solving, critical thinking and emotional intelligence, tutors focused on AI say.

Workplace violence appears to be growing, prompting calls for prevention, report finds

The increase in reports of violence “should serve as a wake-up call for organizations nationwide,” compliance counsel at Traliant warned.

Office occupiers seek ways to improve vibrancy of space: CBRE

Workers that go into the office when it’s only partially full don’t find the environment appealing and are less likely to return the next day, the firm reports. 

Cultural shift on pay transparency driving employer adoption, WTW says

Most employers plan to communicate or are in the process of communicating pay ranges, the firm’s survey found. But far fewer disclose details such as how pay is determined.

Disney settles with actor fired for controversial social media posts

The lawsuit brought attention to a unique California labor code that prohibits employers from preventing or controlling employees’ political activity.

7th Circuit revives Christian teacher’s religious accommodation claim

The teacher, who asked to call all students by their last names rather than use transgender students’ chosen names, prevailed due to the recent heightened standard for religious claims. 

Younger employees use AI at work but don’t want to tell their bosses, survey shows

Nearly half of Generation Z and millennial workers said they feared that AI could replace their jobs — a top reason they don’t want to disclose their use of the technology.

Workers are stressed about finances — and they say it’s affecting their productivity

As workers turn to employers for support, benefits programs can help employees protect their finances, The Hartford found.

AI jobs resistant to recent tech talent hiring slump

Demand for professions linked to AI bucked a sectorwide contraction, in some cases more than quadrupling since 2020, according to Indeed.

Ex-Tesla HR pros allege they were ‘penalized and pushed out’ for reporting bias

The wide-ranging lawsuit concerns the automaker’s Fremont, California, facility that has been at the center of several previous discrimination lawsuits.